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How to become a licensed general contractor in South Carolina. State-level licensing required. Experience: 4 years. Total initial fees: $250. Verified 2026-03-22. Data verified 2026-03-22. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
General Contractor
Governing Authority
SC Contractors Licensing Board (CLB) and Residential Builders Commission (RBC)
Official website →Yes
License Required?
4 years
Experience Required
No
Bonding Required?
$250
Total Initial Fees
2 years
Renewal Period
0 hrs
CE Hours
Description
SC Residential Builders Commission (RBC) license. $5,000 threshold. Requires exam, credit report (unusual requirement), and financial statement. NASCLA accreditation accepted.
Project Limit
RBC license required for residential projects over $5,000
Additional Requirements
Description
SC Contractors Licensing Board (CLB) commercial license. $10,000 threshold. 5 Groups based on project value: Group 1 (Unlimited), Group 2 ($500K-$1M), Group 3 ($200K-$500K), Group 4 ($100K-$200K), Group 5 ($50K-$100K). Exam required via PSI. Financial statement required.
Project Limit
CLB license required for commercial projects over $10,000. 5 Groups based on project value.
Additional Requirements
Description
SC dual-board system: CLB for commercial ($10,000+ threshold, 5 Groups based on project value) and RBC for residential ($5,000+ threshold). CLB Groups: 1 (Unlimited), 2 ($500K-$1M), 3 ($200K-$500K), 4 ($100K-$200K), 5 ($50K-$100K). NASCLA accreditation accepted for CLB Group 1 (Unlimited) and RBC.
Project Limit
License required for projects over $5,000
Additional Requirements
Description
Specialty contractor license for South Carolina. Covers specialized trades and construction activities. Categories: Building Construction, Highway Construction, Specialty.
Additional Requirements
Experience & Documentation
Verified4
Years Required
Required
Documented Project History
Journeyman/Trade Experience
Minimum 4 years of documented experience in the construction trade
Alternative Pathways (Education Substitutions)
Exam Requirements
VerifiedRequired
Trade Exam
Required
Business & Law Exam
Exam Provider
PSI
Passing Score
70%
Open Book
Yes
Trade Exam Details
PSI-administered exams. Passing scores vary by trade classification. Both CLB and RBC require exams. Exam waivers available for certain trades based on reciprocity or NASCLA accreditation. CLB Group 1 (Unlimited) accepts NASCLA. RBC also accepts NASCLA.
Business & Law Exam Details
Business and law examination covering contract law, lien law, and business management
Retake Policy
Candidates may retake the exam after a waiting period. Contact the board for specific retake policies.
Bonding Requirements
VerifiedSurety Bond Not Required
Surety bonds protect consumers by providing financial recourse if a contractor fails to complete a project or violates licensing regulations. Bond costs are typically 1-3% of the bond amount annually.
Insurance & Workers' Comp
VerifiedRequired
General Liability
Required
Workers' Compensation
Minimum Coverage
General liability insurance required per state regulations
Additional Insurance Requirements
Workers' Comp Threshold
Required for employers with 4 or more employees
Workers' Comp Details
South Carolina requires workers' compensation insurance for employers with 4 or more employees. Sole proprietors may be exempt but coverage is recommended.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee | $50 |
Exam Fee Per exam attempt | $100 |
License Fee | $100 |
Renewal Fee Per 2 years | $100 |
Total Initial Fees Approximate total of application, exam, and license fees | $250 |
Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years
Renewal Period
0 hrs
CE Hours Required
Renewal Fee
$100
Regulatory Board
Contractor licenses must be renewed on schedule. Many states require continuing education covering building codes, safety practices, business law, and energy efficiency standards.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedAccepts Out-of-State Credentials
ICC Certification Not Accepted
Reciprocity Type
NASCLA accreditation accepted for CLB Unlimited and RBC
Transfer Details
NASCLA accredited exam accepted for CLB Group 1 (Unlimited) commercial license and RBC residential license. Exam waivers available for certain trade classifications. NC reciprocity exam waiver available. Full application and financial documentation still required.
General contractor license reciprocity varies significantly by state. Some states recognize ICC certifications, while others require passing the state exam regardless of prior credentials. Always verify current policies with the state licensing board.
SC dual-board system (CLB for commercial, RBC for residential). Different thresholds: $10K commercial, $5K residential. RBC requires credit report (unusual). NASCLA accepted for both CLB Unlimited and RBC. 5 commercial Groups by project value.
SC has a DUAL-BOARD system: CLB for commercial ($10,000+ threshold) and RBC for residential ($5,000+ threshold).
CLB has 5 Groups based on project value: 1 (Unlimited), 2 ($500K-$1M), 3 ($200K-$500K), 4 ($100K-$200K), 5 ($50K-$100K).
RBC requires a credit report — unusual requirement not seen in most states.
NASCLA accreditation accepted for both CLB Group 1 (Unlimited) and RBC.
Passing scores vary by trade classification.
Workers' compensation required for 4+ employees in SC.
4 years of experience required.
Lien Law Basics
Preliminary Notice: Required
Lien Deadline: 90 days after completion
South Carolina construction lien law: Preliminary notice is required to preserve lien rights. Lien filing deadline: 90 days after completion.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in South Carolina.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#36 of 51
Salary
#39 of 51
Cost
#13 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (SOC 47-1011)
Entry Level
$59,060
25th percentile
Median
$74,240
-6% vs. national avg ($78,690)Experienced
$90,000
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
12,600 employed in this state
Note: BLS category "First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades" is broader than general contractors specifically. It includes supervisors across all construction specialties.
Source: BLS OEWS – First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+5.5%
Average GrowthNew Jobs
+40,500
over 10 years
Annual Openings
55,200
per year (avg.)
729,900 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Electrical Career Ladder+27% salary growth potential
You are here
Electrical Contractor
$74,240
Master electrician license + contractor license
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
$58,260
You are here
Electrical Contractor
Master electrician license + contractor license
$74,240
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 216–230 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
4–12 weeks
Estimated processing time
Study guides and practice tests for the general contractor licensing exam.
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Accessed 2026-03-22
Accessed 2026-03-22
Accessed 2026-03-22
Accessed 2026-03-22
Accessed 2026-03-22
Accessed 2026-03-22
South Carolina requires state-level contractor licensing. 4 years of experience is required. All licensing is managed through the SC Contractors Licensing Board (CLB) and Residential Builders Commission (RBC).
Requirements vary by state and local jurisdiction. Always verify current requirements with your state or local licensing authority.